Toner cartridges are essential to the laser printing process, but, like the best of us, they occasionally screw up. But common toner cartridge problems are often easy to fix once you know what you’re looking for.

Starink toner cartridge troubleshooting guide is here to help! Here’s how to handle the most common toner problems.

The printer Cover/ Door Will Not Close

Solution: You probably have your toner cartridges installed incorrectly. Remove and re-install them, ensuring everything clicks into place as it should. This is a pretty simple toner error fix.

When installing or removing toner cartridges, it's important to follow the proper procedure to avoid issues with the printer.

When a toner cartridge isn't installed correctly, it can cause the cover/door of your printer not to close completely, which stops the printer from working. As far as toner cartridge problems go, this one is pretty straightforward.

If the door of your laser printer still won’t close after re-installing the cartridge, double-check that you have the correct cartridge for your printer.

When replacing your toner cartridge, we recommend using a Starink cartridge to ensure the best quality and compatibility with your printer. Starink cartridges are designed specifically for your printer model and are backed by a manufacturer's warranty.

Toner Runs Out Too Fast

Dealing with a low-toner warning can be frustrating. If you're unsure whether the warning is accurate, you can remove the toner cartridge and gently shake it to see if it's actually low on toner.

Sometimes, the toner can become stuck to the walls of the cartridge, and shaking it can distribute the toner more evenly and possibly remove the low toner warning.

If your toner cartridge is genuinely low on toner and you're disappointed in how quickly it ran out, consider investing in high-yield or extra high-yield toner cartridges.

These cartridges contain more toner and last longer with higher page yields.

Printout Blemishes

If you're experiencing print quality problems such as blurring, streaks, or fading, it could be caused by a malfunctioning printer or toner cartridge.

Here are some possible solutions to print quality problems:

Blurring, Smears, and Streaks - These issues can be caused by a defective toner cartridge or a toner cartridge not installed correctly.

To fix toner streaks, first, print several blank pages to see if it fixes the print quality. Next, try cleaning the internal components of the printer such as the laser scanner/mirrors.

If this doesn't work, re-install the toner cartridge.

If the problem persists, your toner cartridge may be defective, and you should replace it.

These issues can also be caused by a defective drum unit. If reinstalling/replacing the toner cartridge is unsuccessful, replace the drum unit next.

Fading - When a toner cartridge is low on toner, fading often occurs. If this is the case, simply replace the toner cartridge, and your printouts should no longer have printer toner problems.

If your printer is not low on toner and your printouts are still fading, it could be caused by a transfer roller issue or a laser mirror that needs to be cleaned.

Blank Spots - Blank spots can be caused by a defective toner cartridge or other issues with the printer, potentially a damaged transfer roller.

If possible, inspect the inside of the printer to see if there are any visible obstructions.

If there aren't, replace the toner cartridge and see if that removes the blank spots. If it doesn't, replace the transfer roller and see if that removes them.

Half-Page Printouts

Half-page printouts can be caused by various issues, including problems with the paper alignment in the paper tray, a malfunctioning toner cartridge, or a defective drum unit.

Start by checking the paper guides in the tray to make sure they are properly adjusted. If the guides are not the issue, unplug both your printer and computer and restart them, then print a test page to see if the problem has been resolved.

If the issue persists, check if there are any error messages displayed that could help identify the cause of the problem. If no error message is shown, the toner cartridge may need to be replaced.

We hope our toner troubleshooting guide helps solve the common toner problems in your laser printer!